Michigan may be closing in on its next head football coach - and it’s a name that carries weight across the college football landscape. According to reports, the Wolverines are targeting longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to take over the reins in Ann Arbor.
A deal is reportedly being prepared for university officials to review Friday, and if it gets the green light, things could move fast. Whittingham, 66, recently stepped down from his post at Utah - but made it clear he wasn’t retiring from the game. That distinction now looms large as Michigan looks to stabilize its program following a turbulent December.
Whittingham’s résumé speaks for itself. Over 21 full seasons at Utah, he racked up a 177-88 record, turning the Utes into a perennial force in the Pac-12 and a respected name nationally.
This season, Utah went 10-2 under his leadership and is set to play in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve. His departure came less than two years after the school publicly named defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley as the head coach-in-waiting - a move that signaled a long-term succession plan.
But Whittingham’s recent exit left the door open, and Michigan appears ready to step through it.
This potential hire would mark a significant shift for the Wolverines, who are looking to move past a difficult chapter. Sherrone Moore, who had been promoted to head coach earlier this year, was fired in early December for cause after the university found credible evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Moore was arrested shortly thereafter and faces multiple charges, including third-degree felony home invasion.
In Whittingham, Michigan would be bringing in a coach known for consistency, player development, and defensive toughness - traits that have defined his Utah teams for more than two decades. His squads were always well-prepared, disciplined, and physical, and he’s shown an ability to adapt in an ever-evolving college football landscape. Whether it was navigating the jump from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 or building a program that could compete with the likes of USC, Oregon, and Washington, Whittingham has done it all - and done it his way.
If the deal comes together, it could be one of the most impactful coaching hires of the offseason. Michigan, still a marquee program with national championship aspirations, would be adding a seasoned leader with a proven track record of winning and building culture. And for Whittingham, it could be a chance to write a new chapter late in his career - this time in the Big Ten, where the stakes are high and the spotlight never dims.